Rail clamp



March 10. 1925. 1,529,610 HTSMITH\ v RAIL CLAMP Filed March 29. 1924 Patented Mar. 10, 1925.

un tes stares iszaeie} HUNTER SMITH, or BECKLEY, WEST, VI GINIA.

f RAIL CLAMP.

Application filed March 29, 1924. Serial No. 7Q2j, 875., v i

T 0 a'ZZ w/wm it may concern: I i

Be 1t known that I, HUNTER SMITH, a cltizen of the United States, residing at Beck The object of the present invention is to' provide a clamp for holding such tenr porary rails in" place, which clamp shall be of the simplest possible construction, consisting of the minimum number of parts, and which, at the same time, shall perform its function in a satisfactory and effective manner. More specifically, a subsidiary object of the invention is to avoid the necessity for using any specially constructed wedge plates or the like, and to this end, I so design the parts that an ordinary railroad track spike may be employed as a wedge or key. One such spike and a single clamp member are the only pieces required to form my improved clamp.

In order that the invention may be readily understood, reference is had to the accom-' panying drawing, in which :1 I

Figure 1 is a transverse vertical section through a permanent or tread rail and a temporary or extension rail, held together by means of one of my, improved rail clamps;

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof; I

Figure 3 is a perspective View of the clamp member itself; and

Figure 4 is a perspective-view of the key or Wedge employed.

'Referringto the drawings in detail, 1 designates the ordinary tread rail forming part of the permanent track, and 2 indicates the temporary or extension rail. A's clearly shown in Figure 1, this extension rail is used resting upon its side, with its head lying between the head and base of thetread' rail 1.

'These two rails are supported upon my improved clamping member, which comprises "a plate 3, on: which the base }of the tread "rail rests, and anupstanding exten sm le, at one end of theplate', shaped and positionedto engage the bottom of th-e. base 2 of the extension "rail; Prefera'l'gly,thefl upper end of the extension 4 is prolonged and bent over toforn a lip-or flange 5', adapted to overhang the upper'edge of the base 2 'of the extension rail. v

Adjacent the otherend' of the'plate'fl, II extending upwardly therefrom, is a hook portion 6, preferably formed integral 'witlif the plate, and having anos e 7', spaced from" jthe plate a suificient distance-"to receive 'be'-' tween itself and the plate, the edge of the base flange 1 of the tread rail 1. a

Formed on the under side of the hooked portion 6, between thenose 7 and body of the hook, is a key-Way 8, most clearly shown in Figure 3, which key-way is'shaped to re-' ceive a wedge or key 9. By reference to Figure 4:, it will be seen that this wedge or key is in the shape of a railroadspike, and i Y in practice, an ordinary, spike, such as is in common use for fastening the rails to the ties, is employed. Thus, the necessity for fabricating any specially formed key ,or

wedge is avoided and not only is the cost of the rail spikes employed almost negligible,

but a supply of such spikes is usually available in the mine and therefore, they can be readily obtained at any time.

As will be seen from aninspection of Figures 1 and 2, after the rails and clamping member are assembled, as shown, the

key-or spike is inserted" in the key-way 8 and driven into such key-way, entering between the body of the hook and the edge of I f the base flange 1 of the tread rail. By this means, in combination with the upstanding portion 4, the two rails are clamped'firmly It will be understood that my improved together, and it will be noted that the nose I clamping member ismade either by casting or forging in a single piece, and that this piece, together with one ordinary, spike, is

all that is required to secure the gether at any desired point.

What I'claim is rails to 1. A rail clamp comprisinga plate adapt ed to support a tread rail resting on its base, and an extension rail lying on its side,

with its head between the head and base of Q the tread rail, said plate being provided at one end :with an upstanding portion adapted to engage the bottom face of the base of the extension rail, and having adjacent the other end a hook portion arranged to overlie the base of the tread rail, and a Wedge member adapted to be driven in between and an extension rail lying on its side, with fits head between the head and base of the tread rail, said plate being provided at one end with an upstanding portion adapted to engage the bottom face of the base of the I extension rail, and having adjacent the p other end a hook portion arranged to overlie the base of the tread rail, the under surface of said hook portion having a key-way formed therein, and a key or wedge shaped to fit said key-way, and adapted to be driven therein so as to enter between the hook portion and the edge of the base of the tread rail and thus lock the parts together.

3. A rail clamp comprising a plate adapted to support a tread rail resting on its base, and an extension rail lying on its side,

with its head between the head and base of the tread rail, said plate being provided at one end with an upstanding portion adapted to engagethe bottom face of the base of the extension rail, and having adjacent the other end a hook port-ion constructed to recelve between itself and the plate the base flange of the tread rail, and a key or wedge in the shape of an ordinary rail spike adapted to be inserted under said hook portion in such manner as to bear at one side against said hook portion, and at the other sideagainst the edge of said base flange of the tread rail. I

a In testimony ture.

HUNTER SMITH.

whereof I aftix my signae. 

